Homes for Queenslanders: New team to help homeless in Far North

• Miles Government launches new Critical Response Team to help people sleeping rough
• Adds to dozens of social homes under construction in the region
• Team part of Homes for Queenslanders plan alongside building one million more homes
• Comes as LNP threatens to cut $15.5 billion in federal housing funding

A new team has been established to rapidly respond and help people across the Far North experiencing homelessness.

The Critical Response Team will work with the local homelessness network to regularly visit known areas where people are experiencing homelessness and offer rapid support to help them find accommodation.

It’s part of the Miles Government’s new long-term housing plan – Homes for Queenslanders – which also included a 20 per cent uplift in funding for homelessness services.

The team is based on the success of Brisbane’s inner-city Critical Response Team which was established last year and has helped more than 800 people find safe accommodation.

Alongside the new team, the government is also building more social homes across Cairns and the Far North, including in Parramatta Park, Yorkeys Knob, Earlville and Mareeba.

It comes as the LNP last week announced $100 billion in federal funding cuts, including cuts to the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund and $5.5 billion Help to Buy scheme.

The threat to cut the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund means 30,000 social and affordable homes are in jeopardy of never being built, including thousands slated for Queensland.

Additionally, flagged cuts to the $5.5 billion Help to Buy scheme means more than 8,000 Queenslanders are set to lose out on the opportunity for home ownership.

Minister Scanlon has called out Peter Dutton and the LNP for their $100 billion razor gang, and called on David Crisafulli to join the government in renouncing the cuts to Queensland homes.

Quotes attributable to Member for Cairns Michael Healy:

“It’s the Miles Government that has been doing what matters for Cairns – providing cost of living support, building more homes and supporting those sleeping rough.

“We’ve got dozens of social homes under construction, we’ve announced a new youth foyer for Cairns and this new team will play an important role in reaching out to people and helping them find a safe place to stay.

“It adds to record funding to tackle homelessness through our Homes for Queenslanders plan, including a 20 per cent increase for our hardworking homelessness organisations.

“This is all at risk however, under the LNP who cut social housing when in Government and just last year voted against investment in 30,000 social and affordable homes.”

Quotes attributable to Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon:

“Our Homes for Queenslanders plan isn’t just building one million homes – it’s also providing critical funding towards ending homelessness.

“The new team will be out in their van every day offering people a safe place to stay, wraparound support and longer-term housing.

“Sadly at the same time, the LNP have sharpened their knives, ready to cut thousands of homes for Queenslanders at a time when we need more construction, not less.

“The LNP voted against 30,000 social and affordable homes, and have spent months railing against home ownership for thousands of Queenslanders – now it’s clear why, because the first thing they want to do is take an axe to them.

“We’ll get on with the job of helping those sleeping rough and building more homes, but revelations of a $100 billion razor gang shows, Queensland just cannot risk the LNP at any level of government.”

ENDS

Media contact: Francis Dela Cruz - 0420 592 078